Elfin Forest - Feb 2010

The Elfin Forest Recreational Preserve is located off Harmony Grove Road near Escondido, CA. There are several miles of trails open to hikers, bicyclists and horseback riders that run from the Interpretive Center near the roadway, up to and around the Olivenhain Dam & Reservoir. We started our hike at the staging area near the Interpretive Center, at elevation 492', and over the course of 1.5 miles climbed up to 1,140'. On the way back down we took an alternate path, for the last 0.6 miles (all downhill), but then had to backtrack that entire distance as the stream was too high to cross, and then continue down the way we came. Total hiking distance was about 5 miles.